Regardless of the type of electric water heater you are using, you can turn on your system without needing to call an expert. An electric water heater has a circuit breaker that you turn on when you want to use it.
It works the same way as a gas water heater, which requires lighting the pilot light. Ensure that your water heater tank is full before you turn it on as a safety precaution. Most people prefer portable options like tankless water heaters.
However, homeowners love point-of-use water heaters as it delivers hot water directly to their taps and appliances far from the central heater. Other people are using hybrid water heaters for their energy-saving efficiency. Regardless of your type of electric water heater, you can turn it on by following these steps.
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How To Turn On Electric Water Heater?
The process of turning on an electric water heater is simple. Follow the steps below to do it effectively and safely:
Step 1 - check the valves.
Close all valve connections such as faucets. Also, close those valves around the heater as leaving them open increases the air pressure in your tank, affecting the interior components by making them fail. So, it’s safer to ensure they are all turned off.
Step 2 - let the cold water flow.
Release the cold water from the faucets or taps before your turn on the water heater. It ensures that air bubbles don’t form due to low water quantity.
The reason for doing this is to ensure that water is properly heated. Therefore, gently open your faucet and valve to allow the cold water to flow into the tank. Wait until the tank is full.
Step 3 - safety tag
Every water heater has a safety tag that is used when you turn off your water. The safety tag prevents people from accidentally turning on the heater when not using it.
Carefully take out the safety tag before you turn the power on. Plus, ensure your hands are dry and you can wear gloves. It’s a precautionary measure against electric shocks.
Step 4 - circuit breaker
A circuit breaker allows you to connect your powe3r adapter to the main working unit. Connect it then turn it on to allow your heater to get power. Now, your electric heater is ready to start heating your water. Simple, flip the switch to start heating the water.
You may not have a circuit breaker, if so listen to low noises. The noises are an indication that your electric water heater is ready.
What if you have a tankless electric water heater? How do you handle it? Handling tankless electric water heaters are straightforward, follow the guide below.
How To Turn On a Tankless Electric Water Heater?
For those who may have the tankless water heater, don’t worry, the process is simpler. All tankless models use electrical ignition which is easy to use.
This electric water heater being tank-less means you don’t need to wait to fill up the tank. The heater starts instantly.
Step 1 - circuit breaker
Safely power your water heater by ensuring that the circuit breaker is connected to the device. The circuit breaker provides ignition and allows your water heater to use the power.
Step 2 - confirm the temperature
Pick the right temperature using the adjustable thermostat above your heater. Look for the remote switch that comes with the package depending on the manufacturer. By default, temperatures come preset at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but you can dial your appropriate temperature to change the default value.
Precautions To Follow As You Turn On The Water Heater
Check the discharge pipes to ensure there are no drips. In case there are drips, it means the pressure is too high, so lower it immediately.
Check to see if your relief valve works effectively.
Check for clutter and bare wires and never turn on your heater until you have sealed the bare wires properly.
If the water heater is tipping off regardless of how frequently you reset the circuit breaker or replace the fuse, call a professional plumber. Let the plumber service the water heater to resolve the issue.
Always remember that your system came with a user manual. If you have trouble knowing what to do, refer to the user manual for help. Also, if you are confused about what action to take during a malfunction, refer to your manual.
Manufacturers provide manuals for their appliances to help people know how to proceed. Therefore, never throw away the manuals even after reading it through.
In case you lost the manual, simply note down the heater model number and manufacturer name then look it up online to get help.
Use the troubleshooting guidelines glued to the water heater to fix issues where possible.
Why Safety Measures Are Important When Turning On a Water Heater?
Protect your investment by turning on the water heater safely. Water heaters are like a pressure controlled tank. Therefore, if you turn a turn the water heater on then the pressure inside builds up which is dangerous.
Unless you are a plumber, never install the water heater as you may install it incorrectly causing it to overheat. Pressure buildup results in explosions that can blast your tank from the basement, a hazard that you can avoid.
Manufacturers advise people to flush their water heater on a monthly basis. However, this is something that most people fail to abide by and end up compromising their water heater efficiency. Don’t be one of those people!
Consequently, manufacturers have built their water heaters with a self-cleaning feature, which now makes your work easier. The work of the self-cleaning feature is to stir up sediments and flush it out via the pipes.
How To Take Care Of Your Water Heater?
With time, sediment buildup. The residue affects the efficiency of your water heater and also clogs the water lines. However, you can avoid these problems by taking precautions and doing proper maintenance.
Schedule routine maintenance to ensure that your water heater doesn’t stop working when you need it most. Only let experienced professional plumbers handle the system to ensure you get quality service. The experts will inform you of the nature of the problems you have if there is a malfunction.
Be still and let the experts check the system to ensure that it runs efficiently as before when it was new. Good maintenance service ensures your water heater runs without any complications, which is what everyone wants.
Proper maintenance also boosts your electric water heater life. Check the pressure relief valve and regularly flush your tank. These are habits that extend your water heater lifespan. Besides, it requires a little effort to maintain your water heater efficiency.
Conclusion
Knowing how to turn on an electric water heater is vital as you don’t need to bother your plumber. It’s a simple step that you can do yourself once you know. Carefully read and understand the steps discussed above to ensure that you don’t have this problem again. The guide makes it easy to turn on any type of electric water heater. Feel free to ask questions if you still have issues.
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